The Hindu : New Delhi News : We’ll make Karnataka a model State, says Yeddyurappa

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Monday, Jun 02, 2008
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We’ll make Karnataka a model State, says Yeddyurappa

Special Correspondent

Success of BJP in polls attributed to its development agenda

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Crowning glory: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa being felicitated by Delhi BJP president Harsha Vardhan at the BJP’s national executive meet in New Delhi on Sunday. Senior party leaders Rajnath Singh, L.K. Advani and others look on.

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday attributed the success of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the hustings to its own development agenda, the betrayal of the Janata Dal (Secular), and the failure of the Congress to deliver the goods despite several years in government.

Addressing the national executive of the BJP here, Mr. Yeddyurappa used his time to thank the party’s central leadership for the confidence reposed in him. While stating that the BJP’s track record in governance stood it in good stead, he conceded the advantage gained due to the lack of unity in the Congress camp.

Pledging to turn Karnataka into a model State in terms of development and welfare of all sections of society irrespective of regional, religious and ethnic background, Mr. Yeddyurappa said his aim now was to secure the maximum possible number of seats for the BJP from the State in the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the Chief Minister, the BJP in Karnataka was seen as a farmers’ party. Seeking to highlight the representative nature of his ministry, he drew attention to the fact that he had included seven Scheduled Castes, one Scheduled Tribe, three Backward Class representatives and one Muslim, as promised during the campaigning. “A lion’s share has thus been given to these sections, which is the highest representation given so far in Karnataka.”

About the BJP’s political rivals, he singled out the Congress for particular mention. Successive Congress governments had failed to deliver in Karnataka over five decades, he said, adding that the party had neglected the downtrodden and the farmers.

Besides, the Congress-led government at the Centre had always shown a step-motherly attitude towards Karnataka. Further, he blamed the Congress for the price rise, poor state of internal security and agricultural crisis.

Ahead of his participation at the national executive, Mr. Yeddyurappa called on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani and party president Rajnath Singh soon after landing in the capital. He also held discussions with Karnataka’s counsel on the Cauvery dispute, Mohan Katharki, who briefed him on the Hogenakkal issue.

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